Offsetting

First guitar-related post for 2019- Fender's FSR Mahogany Offset Telecaster (Japan). This was purchased late last year & was a totally unplanned acquisition. By virtue of visual reference, this is downright ugly. Again, the reason why I parted with hard-earned money for such a guitar is to show that I'm not averse to good implements, regardless of the manifestation. The Offset Tele wasn't new by any means. 

Offset Telecaster manifestations:

• 2014: Custom Shop Offset Telecaster 'Telemaster' (John Cruz masterbuilt, featuring 3 single coils) 
• 2016: American Standard Offset Tele (part of the limited run Magnificent Seven series)
• Feb 2018: Make'n Music Limited Edition Offset Telecaster FSR American Pro Series (featuring wide range Shawbucker neck pickup)
• 2018: Mahogany Offset Telecaster (Japan, featuring a P-90 neck pickup)

What began as a Custom Shop tongue in cheek design, the Offset Telecaster gathered an unexpected following largely due to the good tones available more so than its physical attraction. Throughout its 4-year lifespan, the obvious variations concerned pickups- triple single coil, standard Tele-style dual single coil, neck humbucking & currently a neck P-90 generating those fat tones.

How things look like over at the flip side. I was attracted to the all mahogany manifestation more than anything else because I have largely ignored the Offset Tele since its inception in 2014. We don't get too many Fenders in an all mahogany affair so this one got the better of me. If you are a professional performer & play standing up most of the time, be warned that this 4kg beast isn't spine/shoulder-friendly. 

These single coils are quite the pair-up. The bridge pickup perpetuates that Tele spike but in this big , mahogany body, I hear a more expansive rendition of that familiar tone. The neck P-90 holds its own; rounder & fatter than the typical Tele single coil but nothing humbucking wooliness to be heard. I personally prefer a P-90 in this position hence my steep inclinations to bring this home rather than giving it a miss at the store, I've yet to run it through a heavy distortion set up so that's about all the tone report in the mean time.